Pressure feed for cartridge type writing instrument



Jan. 27, 1959 s. A. HACKMYER PRESSURE FEED FOR CARTRIDGE TYPE WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 19, 1956 IN VEN TOR.

5,401 4. HA CKM YER,

Arron/vs) United States Patent PRESSURE FEED FOR CARTRIDGE TYPE I WRITING INSTRUMENT Saul A. Hackmyer, Miami, Fla., assignor to Technical Research, Inc., Miami Beach, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application October 19, 1956, Serial No. 617,148

9 Claims. (Cl. 120--'45.4)

This invention relates to a fountain type writing instrument and has particular reference to such a device wherein a writing point and associated mechanism is axially shiftable with respect to a barrel for pressure feeding of the ink to the writing point.

The invention contemplates a writing instrument having a tubular barrel in which is disposed an ink cartridge and an ink feed tube and with the tube in its lower end being provided with a writing point or tip, such as the conventional ball point or the conventional pen having nibs.

The invention has for its primary purpose a writing instrument wherein is disposed an ink cartridge having a compressible bulb type unit at its upper end that is engageable with a knob and with the cartridge and an associated feed tube being axially shiftable in a supporting barrel whereby the bulb is alternately pressed against the knob for feeding a predetermined quantity of ink to a writing tip carried by the feed tube.

An object of the invention is to provide a writing instrument having a barrel for the reception of an ink containing cartridge and an associated ink feed tube having a writing tip and whereby axial pressure upon the tip causes a predetermined flow of ink from the cartridge to the tip.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being bad to' the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated the preferred embodiments of the inventionand wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a writing instrument constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1 and with parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the lower portion of the instrument,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 4--4 of Figure 2 and,

Figure 5 is a vertical section illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention. A 7

Referring specifically 'to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1-4 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a barrel including a lower section 6 and an upper section 7 that have concentric threaded engagement with each other as at 8. The sections 6 and 7 jointly form an elon- "gated cylindrical chamber 9. The lower section 6 is axially bored as at 10 for the shiftable reception of a tubular extension 11 of a cylindrical tube 12'. The tube 12 is open at its upper end and communicates at its lower end I with the tube 11. The tube 11 at its lower end is open, as clearly shown. Disposed within the tube 12, is an ink containing cartridge 13 that is open at its upper and lower "ice puncturable stopper 14 while its upper end is closed by a flexible stopper device 15. The upper section 7 is provided with an axially disposed and downwardly protruding knob 16, that normally engages a diaphragm 17 of the stopper 15. The tube 12 upon its opposite side walls is cut away at 18 to form finger engaging openings whereby the cartridge 13 may be shifted downwardly into the tube 12 for piercing engagement with a feed tube, to be described.

Shiftably disposed within the tubular extension 11, is a feed tube 19 having a central feed bore 20 and with the lower end of the tube 19 being provided with a ball writing point 21. The tube 19 at its upper end is beveled and sharpened as at 22 to provide a piercing endthat is adapted to pierce the membrane 23 of the stopper 14 for communication with the inside of the cartridge 13 whereby ink within the cartridge may be fed downwardly through the bore 20 to the ball point 21. The tube 19 downwardly from its piercing end 22 is provided with a flange 19 that has a diameter. substantially corresponding to the outer diameter of the cartridge 13. The tube 19 when shifted upwardly when the mechanism is pressed upon a writing surface, causes the flange 19 to engage the lower end of the cartridge 13, pressing it upwardly in the manner of a piston, forcing the diaphragm 17 against the knob 16, depressing the diaphragm to force a predetermined quantity of writing fluid through the bore 20 to the point 21. The tube 19 intermediate its length is reduced in diameter as indicated at 24, while the cylindrical extension 11 is inwardly spun to provide an annular rib 25 thatlimits the shifting movement of the tube 19 with respect to the tube 11. Thus, since the tube 12 is held against vertical movement by its abutment with the upper end of the chamber 9, movement of the tube 19 causes the flange 19' to force the cartridge 13 upwardly deflecting the diaphragm 17 downwardly and forcing a quantity of the writing fluid to the writing point. The movement of the tube 19 with respect to the extension 11 is limited by the rib 25, although the illustration has been exaggerated as to actual relative movement. The ball point tip 21 may be of any desirable construction, but for purpose of preventing a vacuum or air lock within the upper end of the cartridge 13, the tip has been diametrically opposite slit as at 26 to permit of air being drawn inwardly and upwardly past the ball and through the bore 20 to rise upwardly through the body of writing fluid to the top of the cartridge. The upper and lower ends of the sections 6 and 7 are tapered and shaped to conform to conventional writing instruments. The stopper 15, as clearly shown is set inwardly from the upper end of the cartridge 13 so that accidental engagement by the finger of the operator will not cause a flexing of the diaphragm to create an accidental feed of the fluid.

- In the use of this form of the invention, the tube 12, and the tube '19 are assembled as shown and the rib 25 formed upon the extension 11 whereby to permanently unite these members together. Then by removing the upper section 7,; the tube 12 and its associated feed tube 19 are disposed within the chamber 9 to seat upon a flat lower ,wall 9a of the. chamber. In this position, the lower terminal end of the extension 11 projects slightly below the lower" end of the member 6, while the feed tube 19 projects below the terminal end of the/extension 11 to form the writing point. A cartridge 13 is then selected and entered downwardly from the top of the tube 12 to a point where its diaphragm 23 contacts the sharpened point 22. The cartridge is forced downwardly by gripping its side Walls through the cut outs 18 of the ftube12, to a degree where the point 22 has pierced the ends. The cartridge 13 at its lower end is closed by a diaph'ragm ZS'and the lower end of the cartridge 13 and the stopper 14 fully engage the flange 19'. The upper section 7 or the cap as the case maybe, is then threaded upon the lower section 6 to fully enclose the tube 12 and the cartridge 13 and with the knob 16 in contact with the diaphragm 17 Now, there will normally be no flow of ink "to the tip 21, 'since writing fluids employed in devices of this nature do not readily flow, due to a partial vacuum in the'cartridge and means must be provided to force the ink to the writing point. WVhen ink is desired for writing, the operator, holding the instrument in a perpendicular-position, presses downwardly upon the paper or other surface, forcing the tube 2 .19 upwardly, causing its fian'ge 19' to press or force the is repeated whenever is desir'ed at the writing tip. As the diaphragm 17 is released, it forces the cartridge 13 and the tube 1 9 downwardly to its normal writing position, and as the diaphragm 17 assumes its normal position, it will draw a predetermined amount of air upwardly through the bore 20 to relieve any suction or vacuum that may be presented at the top of the column of writing fluid. After'the writing fluid has been exhausted, the cap 7 is removed and the cartridge withdrawn from the tube 12 by grasping its sides through the cut-out 18 to force it upwardly from its engagement with the sharpened end 22, afterwhich it can be easily removed and a new cartridge inserted In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, there has been provided a barrel .27 that is internally threaded at its upper end to receive a plug 28. .The plug 28 is provided with a centrally arranged and downwardly extending knob 29 The barrel 27 is chambered for its major length and is provided with a flat bottom wall 30. The lower portion of the barrel 27 is centrally and axially bored at 31 for the shiftable reception of a relatively thin cylindrical feed tube 32 having a central bore 33 that communicates with the interior of a cylindrical ink containing cartridge 34. The cartridge 34 has av lower bottom wall 35 that normally rests upon the bottom and, in such' position, a writing point 36 projects below the lower end of the barrel 27. The cartridge 34 is open at its upper end and is normally closed by a flexible and preferably rubber stopper 37, having a flexible diaphragm 38 that is normally in contact with the knob 29. The feed tube 33 and the cartridge 34 are shiftable upwardly in the barrel 27 for forcing the diaphragm 38into contacting engagement with the knob 29. and, through the medium of such movement, forcing a predetermined quantity of writing fluid downwardly through the bore 33 to the writing tip 36. The tube 32 and the cartridge 34 are preferably formed integral or permanently united whereby the cartridge and its'writing tip and feed tube constitute a unit that may be discarded after the ink supply has been exhausted. U I I 3 In the use of this form of: the invention, the plug 28 is removed and the cartridge carrying the tube 32 is inserted in tlie open upper end of the barrel with the tube: 32 projecting downwardly to form therwriting point'as illustrated. With the closed end of the cartridge '34 resting upon the bottom wall 30 and the barrel, the plug or cap 28 is screwed into position, causing th j knob 29 to engage the diaphragm 38; The unit is now ready for use. Since the ink must be forcibly fed downwardly,

the operator'pres ses the point 2 6 upon the paper or other surfaceQforcing thejtube 32' and the cartridge 34 upwardly, causing the'diaphragrn 'to forcibly engagefthe knob 24 and deflecting the. diaphragm 38, downwardly, forcing a predetermined amount of writing fluid through the bore 33 to the writing point 36. This action is repeated whenever ink is desired at the writin'gtip; ,Air

of course will be drawn inwardly past the writing' tip to move upwardlyrthrough lihfiJiJOdyfOf the writing fluid to relieve any possiblevacuum at the upperend' of the cartridge that would normallypreventa"flowbf the fluid.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a'very novel form of writing instrument has been provided. The parts are few and simple, are strong, durable, cheap to manufacture and highly effective as a means to positively create a flow of the writing fluid to the writing tip. The devices in each instant partake of a piston action with respect to the diaphragrns 17 and 3 8, positiv'ely feeding a predetermined amount of the writing 'fluid at each piston action. The knobs 16 and 29 project downwardly a distance whereby their body portion limits the upward movement of the cartridge and to determine the maximum flexing of the diaphragms.

It is to be understood that the invention-is not limited to the precise arrangements shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims. I I g g Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure Letters Patentis:

' 1.. A writing instrument of the charactendescribed comprising an elongated cylindrical handle forming barre1, the barrel being recessed throughout its major length to provide a cylindrical charnbert the barrel at its upper end bein'g provided with an axially arranged .knob that projects into the chamber, the chamber at its lower end having a reduced cylindrical bore that extends axially of the barrel and that is open at both ends and with. the upper end communicating with the chamber, an ink sup- 1 ply cartridge that is removably disposed within the chamber, the ink supplycartridge being open at its upper end and beingclosed at its lower end by a puncturable diaphragm, the cartridge at its ,upper end being provided with a closure stopper having a centrally arranged diaphragm that underlies the knob, an ink feed tube that extends through the bore to project ,below the lower end of the barrel, the upper end of the feedtube being sharpened for puncturable engagement with the diaphragm in the lower end of the cartridge and means carried by the feed tube-whereby to shift the cartridge writing point.

axially when pressure is exerted upon the writing point to force the diaphragm of the stopper into engagement with the knob'and whereby the diaphragm is flexed inwardly to force a quantity of ink through the feed tube to the 2-. A writing instrument of the character described that embodies a cylindrical housing'thatformsv a handle for the instrument, the handle being formed in two parts that are threadedly coupled together intermediate their length, the handle being provided with a cylindrical chamber for its major length and with the chamber at its lower end being" provided with a flat bottom, the

handle -at its lower end being axially bored andwith the bore communicating with the chamber, asleeve disposed Within the chamber for substantially its full length and with the sleeve resting upon the bottom wall,-the sleeve being provided. axially thereof with -a--relatively slender tubular extension that extends downwardly through the bore, the chamber at its'upper' end terminating in a centrally arranged and inwardlyextending rounded knob, a relatively slender ink feeding-tube that is slidably engaged within the extension and with the tube projecting below the extension and provided-with a writing point, the tube at its upper end projecting into the chamber and having its .upper end beveled and sharpened, the feed tube having a relatively. sliding. movement through the extension and means; whereby the feed tube is limited vin its sliding movement with respect-.to theextension, the. said sleeve being open at its; upper end for having 'a puncturable diaphragrni the cartridge at its upper end being, closed: alsmpper having a flexible diaphragm,thatunderlies the knob, the said sharpened end of tlie tube adaptedto puncture the diaphragm with the ink supply in the cartridge, and means formed upon the feed tube whereby the feed tube serves to axially shift the cartridge upwardly when pressure is exerted upon the writing point and flexing the diaphragm of the upper stopper to force a quantity of ink through the feed tube to the writing point.

3. A writing instrument of the character described that includes a cylindrical handle forming barrel embodying upper and lower sections that are threadedly connected together, each of the sections being cylindrically chambered and with the chambers jointly forming an elongated tubular housing, the upper chamber terminating in a rounded knob that is co-axial and that extends into the chamber, the lower chamber terminating in a flat bottom wall, the lower section being axially bored and with the bore communicating with the chamber, a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the housing and extending for the major length thereof, the sleeve being open -at'its top and provided with a flat bottom wall that rests upon the bottom wall of thehousing, a relatively slender and axially disposed tubular extension formed upon the said cylindrical sleeve and that engages throughout the said bore and with the extension being open throughout and communicating with the interior of the cylindrical sleeve, an ink feeding tube member that is slidably disposed in the extension and that projects below the lower end of the barrel, the feed tube at its lower end being provided with a writing point, the upper end of the feed tube extending into the first named tube axially thereof and with its upper end being sharpened, an ink supply cartridge disposed within the first named tube and with the cartridge having a puncturable closure at its lower end for puncturing engagement with the sharpened end of the feed tube and whereby ink from the cartridge may be fed to the Writing point, the upper end of the cartridge being closed by a flexible stopper having a diaphragm that underlies the knob, means carried by the feed tube whereby the cartridge may be axially shifted for defleeting the diaphragm and forcing ink through the feed tube to the writing point when an axial pressure is exerted upon the writing point and means for limiting the shifting movement of the feed tube and the cartridge.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the feed tube is provided with a collar that underlies the cartridge and whereby the cartridge is shifted upwardly under the influence of the axial pressure exerted upon the writing point.

5. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the feed tube and the extension are relatively inseparable and whereby the feed tube is axially movable with respect to the extension.

6. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the feed tube intermediate its length is reduced in diameter and with the extension being inwardly spun to form a circumferential rib that engages within the area of the reduced feed tube and whereby to limit the shifting movement of the feed tube with respect to the extension..

7. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the sleeve has a relatively close sliding fit within the chamber and wherein the feed tube has a relatively close sliding fit within the extension, the said feed tube being provided with a collar that is disposed within and adapted to have a relatively close sliding fit within the sleeve and with the collar having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the cartridge, the said collar in a normal position of writing adapted to rest upon the lower flat wall of the sleeve.

8. The structure according to claim 3, wherein the sleeve is cut away upon opposite sides to provide access openings whereby the cartridge may be forcibly fed downwardly in the sleeve for causing the piercing end of the feed tube to puncture the lower diaphragm.

9. A writing instrument of the character described that includes an elongated cylindrical handle forming barrel, the barrel being open at its upper end, the barrel being cylindrically chambered for its major length and with the chamber terminating in a lower flat wall, the

said barrel downwardly from the flat wall being cen' trally and axially bored, a cap that is threadedly engaged withinthe open upper endof the barrel and with the cap being provided with a rounded knob that projects into the chamber axially thereof, an ink containing cartridge that includes a cylindrical housing and with the housing being dimensioned to have a relatively close sliding fit within the chamber of the barrel, the cartridge having a lower fiat end that has a normal resting engagement upon the flat wall of the chamber, a relatively slender feed tube fixedly connected to the cartridge at its lower end centrally and axially thereof, the said feed tube at its lower end being provided with a writing point, the said feed tube engaged within and shiftable axially with respect to the bore and with the writing point being disposed below the lower end of the barrel, the said cartridge being open at its upper end and closed by a resilient stopper having a convex diaphragm and with the diaphragm underlying the said knob when the device is in assembled relation, the said cartridge and the said feed tube being shiftable upwardly and axially of the barrel when an axial pressure is exerted upon the writing point and whereby to shift the cartridge upwardly for causing the diaphragm to be depressed under the influence of the knob for forcing a supply of writing fluid through the feed tube to the writing point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,762,337 Beckwith Sept. 11, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 45,768 Germany June 14, 1888 422,157 Italy June 11, 1947 167,758 Austria Feb. 26, 1951 995,271 France Aug. 14, 1951 465,993 Italy Oct. 8, 1951 926,054 Germany Apr. 4, 1955 

